The transitional government of Mali has announced that initial investigations into the recent downing of a drone belonging to its armed forces have concluded that it was "brought down by a deliberate hostile act committed by the Algerian regime" within Malian territory. As a result, Bamako has taken a series of diplomatic escalation steps, including recalling its ambassador from Algiers and filing a complaint with the relevant international bodies.
In an official statement, the Malian government said the drone, which was on a reconnaissance mission, had detected a meeting of "high-level terrorist elements" before losing contact while still over Malian territory. The wreckage was later found only 9.5 kilometers from the Algerian border, refuting Algeria’s claim that the drone had breached its airspace by two kilometers.
The statement explained that the drone, registered under the number TZ-98D, fell vertically and abruptly—something the Malian authorities interpreted as evidence it had been struck by either surface-to-air or air-to-air missiles. The government of Bamako said it launched an immediate investigation into the incident.
According to the statement, preliminary findings point to a “premeditated hostile intent from the Algerian side,” and all technical data regarding the drone's flight path confirm it did not leave Malian airspace. Both the point of lost contact and the site of the wreckage lie within Mali’s national borders.
The statement also criticized Algeria’s "unjustified silence" in response to Mali’s request for proof to support its claim of airspace violation, describing it as “an implicit admission of responsibility.” It added that more than 72 hours had passed without any response from the Algerian side, reinforcing suspicions of aggression.
As part of its diplomatic response, Mali announced the withdrawal of its ambassador from Algeria in protest over what it described as “blatant hostility” from the Algerian regime. The government also decided to immediately pull out of the Joint Operational Staff Committee (CEMOC), a security body comprising Sahel countries aimed at addressing shared security and terrorism challenges.
Mali’s statement confirmed it would file a formal complaint against Algeria before international bodies, accusing it of committing “an act of aggression” that undermines the security and stability of a sovereign state. It described the incident as a dangerous precedent in bilateral relations between the two nations.
The statement held the Algerian regime responsible for sabotaging the drone’s mission, which was aimed at monitoring a gathering of terrorist elements reportedly planning operations in the border area of Tinzaouatene. Mali argued that the drone’s downing ultimately benefited extremist armed groups.
Bamako went further to accuse Algeria of “sponsoring international terrorism,” calling on the Algerian regime to “cease exporting threats and destabilizing the region,” and urged it to adopt a more responsible stance that considers the imperatives of peace and development in the Sahel.
